Archives for November 6, 2001

Tennessee also suffered the most painful coaching losses of any NFL team. Tastefully named DC Gregg Williams and his assistant Jerry Gray left to become HC and DC at Buffalo. They’re struggling with the Bills’ cap-imploded roster, but nevertheless are top-shelf types whom the Titans dearly miss. You don’t drop from first to 27th based on a couple player changes alone.

Professor John Kessel (aka Dr. K) of NC State University protested TMQ’s making fun of the "Becoming Human" conference of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. Kessel was a speaker at the conference and, presumably, is human. Kessel offered as evidence of his humanity the fact that he is a "lifetime Buffalo Bills fan," which means he knows human suffering. TMQ is a Bills fan, too, and died a thousand deaths during the Super Bowl loss streak.

‘Coach Gregg Williams said starting tackles John Fina and Jonas Jennings will return to practice when the Bills begin preparations for Sunday’s game at New England. Fina was given the week off to rest his sore knee, while Jennings has been sidelined for two weeks with a sprained foot. The Bills’ medical staff also has cleared guard Jerry Ostroski to practice more extensively this week.’

‘"Ooooh, no," Rex said. "This is what it’s all about now, man. Today, the Bills moved one step closer to picking second in the next draft. Do you know what that could mean? Look at this guy." He shoved a Kiper article in my face about Bryant McKinnie, the 6-8, 335-pound left tackle at Miami (Fla.). It said McKinnie was the second-best prospect in the country, after Julius Peppers, the defensive end at North Carolina. And his stock is still rising.’

DON’T GET ME STARTED asks the question that needs to be asked. "Why did the Bills draft running back Travis Henry?"

The Bills coaching staff doesn’t hesitate to use rookies at the tackle position (after failing to address a big need on the offensive line) but for whatever reason, Mike Sheppard and Gregg Williams ignore the running game.

In just a year talking about Johnson or Flutie and Biron or Hasek, Schopp (WNSA-FM) has developed into the most thoughtful, logical, entertaining and, yes, interesting sports talk host on the air. The 1989 graduate of Grand Island High School already has attracted the attention of stations in bigger markets, as well as ESPN Radio.

NOTE:Empire mistakenly reported that everyone coming to the Seattle game would get a bobblehead. That is not true.

In a press conference today, the Bills presented Kelly with the first of the commemorative bobble head dolls that were produced for the occasion. All fans who purchase Bills-Seahawks tickets at Wegmans stores will received the limited edition Jim Kelly bobble head.

‘"I look at it that they drafted me and gave me an opportunity when I first came into the league, but it just didn’t work out for me there. So I’ve moved on and came here and hope to establish myself and keep playing well. There’s no grudge. It was just the old coaching staff, mainly the old offensive coordinator. We didn’t see eye to eye. In his eyes, I guess I wasn’t his type of back. But I’m happy here."’

‘"You could see the improvement week to week," said Polian, the Bills’ former general manager. "But the one thing you can’t handle to any great degree in the NFL is serious injury. No team is ever as good without their front-line players. Say what you will about having backups, it’s fanciful thinking in the salary cap era." Boy, don’t the Bills know it.’

‘While not exonerating Arians, the coaching staff has determined that protection problems are also to blame on the blocked attempts against San Diego and Indianapolis. "It was something we saw the week before also and I’m sure the Colts saw it," coach Gregg Williams said. "We worked hard on correcting it but we didn’t get it done."’

‘An awkward situation arose in the Bills’ lockerroom after the game. Guard Ruben Brown was visibly upset several times during the game, once throwing his helmet, then gathering his offensive teammates around him for an emotional chat. Naturally, the media wanted to talk to him after the game. But he declined, except to WGR’s Ed Kilgore. As Brown explained, "They pay me."’

‘When Buffalo visited Indianapolis in the second week of the season, the Bills defense made the Colts look like the offensive equivalent of the St. Louis Rams, surrendering 42 points and 555 yards…..’.